August 2, 2012

Did You Know. . .

that according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, granola is defined as a mixture typically of rolled oats and various added
ingredients (such as brown sugar, raisins, coconut, and nuts) that is eaten
especially for breakfast or as a snack?

that granola was created in the late 1800s during the time that the cereal industry started? Many religious men who focused on living in a healthy way had a hand in developing granola.

that it all began with Sylvester Graham (1794 - 1851) who created the graham cracker? He believed in using whole grain wheat flour (graham flour) and recommended staying away from white bread.

that in 1863, a granola recipe was invented? Dr. James C. Jackson took graham flour, formed it into sheets, baked it until it was dry, broke those pieces, baked it again and then broke it up into even smaller pieces. He called it
"Granula".

that Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (famous for Kellogg cereals) developed a breakfast food which was a mix of baked and rebaked whole grains and called it "Granola" (he was sued by Dr. Jackson for calling it granula so he changed the name to granola)? He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church which urged temperance, vegetarianism and a healthy diet.

that Charles W. Post who was a patient at the Battle Creek Sanitarium (in which Dr. Kellogg was in charge of), opened up his own
health retreat after leaving the facility? He ended up making his own Granola recipe and named it Grape
Nuts. He made Grape Nuts a commercial success.

that as cereals became more sugary in the mid 1900s, granola became less popular? However, it was revived again in the 1960's because it was considered a "hippie" health food.